The Harmony Arts Board is hosting a book signing event this Saturday, April 21 from 4 - 6 pm at On the Crunchy Side restaurant in Harmony. The event is in honor of the recently released book, Brothers in the Water- The Rushford Volunteer Firemen and the Flood of 2007 written by Bonnie Flaig Prinsen with the Rushford Firemen.

An “Author Speak” presentation will be held at 4:30 pm. Bonnie Flaig Prinsen will speak about the process of writing this book. When asked to comment about this upcoming event, Bonnie responded, “Since the publication of Brothers in The Water I have had so many rewarding conversations with people, and I realize the importance of writing down and publishing this kind of local history. I continue to be amazed when I think of what the Rushford volunteer firemen were doing in the early morning hours of the flood back in 2007. I truly believe that they, and all volunteer fire fighters, represent the best of what we humans are capable of.

“In addition, they are just a great group of guys and we’ve shared some laughs. I will always be thankful that they allowed me to be part of telling their story.”

The book, which details the historic Rushford flood, is based on interviews Prinsen conducted with the volunteer fire fighters who were instrumental in evacuating the town of 1,700 residents on August 17, 2007.

More than seventeen inches of rain fell in a 24-hour period the third weekend in August, 2007—but Rushford residents were not especially worried when they went to bed that Saturday night. Though the area had been prone to flooding in the past, a dike system from the late 1960’s was rated to withstand even the dreaded “100 Year Flood.” But at around 3:00 a.m. Sunday, water from Rush Creek surged over the dikes in what would be labeled a “500 Year Flood,” changing the town and its residents forever.

Many stories, both tragic and triumphant, have come from the flood of 2007. Brothers in the Water tells the stories of one group at the forefront of evacuating stranded citizens as their neighborhoods filled with water in the early morning darkness: the Rushford Volunteer Fire Department.

Books will be available for purchase or bring your own copy for the signing. Sales of this heroic, historical book benefit the Rushford Firemen Department Relief Association. The books are currently available in a number of outlets including Rushford Foods, Preston Foods, and Harmony Foods stores. Books also are available through mail order and other locations

Appetizers, refreshments and coffee prepared by Chef Miles Petree will be provided by the Harmony Arts Board. Beverages from the bar will be available for purchase. All are welcome to share memories and to celebrate the strength with which the communities of SE MN face disasters.

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